Simulation of Grid Forming PV Plants in the Medium Voltage Grid - A Maltese Case Study

Abstract

This paper presents a simulation study concerning photovoltaic power plants whose converters are controlled in Grid Forming mode to provide frequency support. The case study presented considers a section of the Maltese medium-voltage electrical grid of the island of Gozo, a small island north of Malta. The Grid Forming control is simulated and implemented in the converters of two existing photovoltaic power plants, with total rated power of approx. 950 kW. The investigated scenarios examine the conditions of maximum and minimum loads, recorded in the Xewkija Distribution Center. The results show improvements in the frequency performance and a reduced impact on the upstream network generation programs, suggesting that Grid Forming control can be effective even at lower voltages for frequency containment.